There were two cases of vandalism reported at Jean Sweeney Park last weekend.

First, a vandal destroyed the netting and bracing that was protecting the newly planted milkweed plants on Friday, Sept. 3 (read Jean Sweeney Open Space Fun board member Dorothy Freeman’s column at https://alamedasun.com/news/vandalism-jean-sweeney-open-space-park).

There were monarch caterpillars on some of the milkweed and a chrysalis developing into an adult butterfly, but they are now gone. Park volunteers called Alameda Police Department (APD) officers were called to the area to investigate the incident.

APD officers returned to park two days later, on Sept. the 5, to investigate a suspicious green substance found on the park’s slide. The large amount of the suspicious green substance was also spread out on the ground near the slide. A resident that notified the Sun of the incident believed the substance was marijuana. However, APD Lt. Alan Kuboyama strongly asserted the substance was not marijuana. He believed the substance might have been grass clippings.

“I’m not totally sure what it was, but it was a pretty impressive amount,” said Kuboyama.

City of Alameda Public Works employees were called to clean the unknown substance.

APD is investigating both incidents. There are no surveillance cameras in the area so there is no footage of either incident taking place.

“We don’t know whether the two incidents are connected or not,” said Kuboyama. “They were reported about four hours apart, but hard to say when the incidents occurred.”

Kuboyama said APD has no history of repeated vandalism incidents at Jean Sweeney Park. If anyone has information on the two incidents, contact APD’s non-emergency line at (510) 337-8340.

Jean Sweeney Open Space Park is located at 1925 Sherman St.